Magic and Science

Spirituality, magic and our intuition ask us to trust our lived experiences, to believe in something bigger than ourselves, to tap into the power beyond this existence to the infinite, cosmic consciousness that connects all of us across time and space. I believe science asks us for much of the same.

I was watching the movie Thor (yes, I’m a big Marvel fan), and this quote by astrophysicist Jane Foster (played by Natalie Portman) struck me: “Magic’s just science we don’t understand yet.” She was quoting science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke, who wrote about advanced technology and magic being indistinguishable. Believe it or not, I had never heard this quote before. So my next thought was: Is it true? I think magic and science are connected. If the natural world is the root of science and magic, if all life is matter and energy, then yes, it seems they are. Perhaps magic is a method of accessing and accepting life in a way that science can’t yet grasp or quantify, and maybe it never will. And maybe that’s okay.

Many of us are trained to not be comfortable with things that can’t be explained, but curiosity and the desire to learn and go deeper is a big part of life. Assuming we know everything probably doesn’t make for such good science, either. “Your ancestors called it magic,” Thor says to Jane as he explains the concept of the nine realms that connect Marvel’s version of the universe. “And you call it science. Well, I come from a place where they’re one in the same.” Something about that just feels right to me. I believe there’s room for both. We need science, and we need magic.

Skepticism is a natural and understandable part of being human. Most of us are skeptical about one thing or another based on how we were raised, what we learned in school, or what mainstream society tells us to believe on a daily basis. However, the more open we can be to the spiritual and often unexplainable parts of life, the more we tend to get out of it. The fixation on quantitative data, empirical evidence and ivory tower conclusions takes us away from our intuitive knowing and the experiential ways of understanding. Spirituality, magic and our intuition ask us to trust our lived experiences, to believe in something bigger than ourselves, to tap into the power beyond this existence to the infinite, cosmic consciousness that connects all of us across time and space. I believe science asks us for much of the same.

We need hope and a belief in the seemingly “impossible” in order to make advancements in science. And, we need imagination and optimism to hold space for real compassion and solutions to the problems we face. We must consider ways of knowing beyond just the approved, funded, and lauded scientific methods. Unfortunately, scientific research isn’t immune to the forces of capitalism, colonialism, patriarchy, and white supremacy. What gets studied enough to make it to the mainstream is often shaped by these systems. Of course, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t trust science. We have to believe that most of the individuals who devote their lives to helping through science have the best intentions. We can’t ignore the benefits science gives us in today’s world (i.e. vaccines, solar and wind power, prosthetics, etc.). But, I believe we can and should consider scientific and intuitive approaches to life. One does not have to exclude the other.

For example, when it comes to the climate crisis, we can’t only look to mainstream science and the most heavily funded research for solutions. We need to trust and center indigenous knowledge and voices, because indigenous people have been and continue to be the best stewards of the planet. They have taken care of the earth, water and sky for centuries, finding ways to continue their practices even as their land has been stolen and destroyed. To uphold and center mainstream climate science over indigenous science and knowledge would not only be wrong, it would fail to take into consideration what has worked and continues to offer the most holistic, balanced and attuned ways of tending to the natural world. This is an area where science and spiritual practice clearly can and should work together.

Astrology is another area where there’s often a false dichotomy or even antagonism between science/rationality and magic/intuition. Yes, astronomy and astrology are two different things. One is a clearly defined science, while the other is typically considered a divination tool, hobby, or dismissed as a pseudoscience. But again, our ancestors didn’t see it that way. Many of them used a combination of astronomy and astrology to decide when to plant and harvest their crops. Even marine biologists consider moon phases when studying the mating and nesting behavior of sea turtles, horseshoe crabs, and other sea creatures. Our bodies are made up of mostly water, so how could the moon and tides not affect our behavior as well? I have learned that astrology can be used as an adjunct to psychology, a tool for self-exploration, a spiritual practice, and much more. There’s no reason, other than judgement or fear, to believe astrology and astronomy aren’t able to coexist.

When it comes to Reiki and other forms of energy healing, there have been plenty of scientific studies to try to determine “how it all works,” with varying but generally inconclusive results. Some believe that Reiki, like crystals, operate by generating tiny piezoelectric frequencies, affecting our electromagnetic fields. This may be true, but also may not account for the full story. How, for instance, does Reiki stimulate visuals like colors, animals, and other symbols in the minds of some practitioners and clients? How does it make us feel more connected with our ancestors, our spirit guides, and the inner voice of our soul? Regardless of what we experience during Reiki, the effects of healing are well-documented for mind, body and spirit. Many hospitals have started offering Reiki as a complementary therapy to medical treatment since it has no negative side effects, only benefits. So no matter whether one understands how it helps, the fact that it does is the most important thing. As long as no harm is being done, we don’t always have to “know” why something works. We can feel and understand in different ways, beyond what our scientific capabilities and ways of mental knowing are currently capable of explaining.

And, if we’re being honest, many of us won’t understand how science works either (I’m not a doctor and math scares me, but I did ace my high school biology exams!). Does that mean science isn’t real? Does that mean it can’t evolve? Does that mean we shouldn’t trust it? Largely, I believe the answer is no. For instance, I made the decision to get the COVID vaccine (even though I was initially nervous) using my intuition, my understanding of scientific data, and my commitment to making decisions not just for me, but for the greater good of my community. I believe all of these things can work hand in hand.

In the end, faith and science do not have to be at odds. There are many scientists who are people of faith (or spiritual, religious, witches, or however they may identify). Science often asks us to rely on facts and evidence, whereas spiritualty asks us to trust our intuition and have faith in what we cannot see and may never completely understand. But can we actually have faith in science? And can we know, through whatever we might consider evidence, that there is truth in magic? I believe we can.

We can’t expect magic or spirituality to solve all our problems. These things certainly help, but there are material realities like war, disease, and other forms of hardship and oppression that affect people’s lives. These require practical solutions, but they also require spiritual ones. We can’t manifest our way out of these problems, or rather, we can’t only manifest our way out of them. I believe that Spirit calls on us to use magic and science, our intellect and our intuition, our ability to reason, challenge and make decisions along with our ability to cast spells, channel energy, and look to the stars for answers. The assertion that one way of knowing and understanding is “better” or even separate from the other is false. In the end, our senses are part of our intelligence. Our intuition is part of our rationality. They aid each other. They are inextricable. They are, as Thor reminds us, ultimately one in the same.

Maybe the quote would be just as true if it were written: “Science is just magic we don’t understand yet.” Do we really know? Does it have to be either/or? I don’t think so. More than likely, it’s both/and. As is so often the case, the truth exists beyond the binary. Maybe that’s where the real magic begins.

-Lauren

*Note: In my own writing and spiritual practice, I tend to use magic, spirituality, and intuition interchangeably, with the understanding that many people and cultures think of them as separate things. I believe they’re related, but completely hold space and respect for other understandings and definitions. Thanks for reading!